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'Working' Then And Now Hear the voices of people Studs Terkel interviewed in his book, Working.
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'Working' Then And Now

'Working' Then & Now: A Private Eye Roots Out Criminal Activity

Anthony Ruggiero worked as a porter, a baker, a newspaper man and a drunk. As a private investigator in Brooklyn, Ruggiero was hired by companies to root out criminal activity.

'Working' Then & Now: A Private Eye Roots Out Criminal Activity

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'Working' Then And Now: A Gravedigger's Unexpected Joys

Homer Martinez, a gravedigger and caretaker, tells author Studs Terkel about the unexpected joys of his job at Shalom Memorial Cemetery in Illinois.

'Working' Then And Now: A Gravedigger's Unexpected Joys

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'Working' Then And Now: A 'Lucky' Jockey Walks Away From Racing

When he was first interviewed by Studs Terkel in 1971, jockey Eddie Arroyo had been racing for 6 years. He said it was the hardest and most dangerous job he'd ever had.

'Working' Then And Now: A 'Lucky' Jockey Walks Away From Racing

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'Working' Then And Now: A Hotel Piano Player Frustrated By His Future

Hots Michels was interviewed by Studs Terkel while entertaining guests at the Hotel Sherman, where he worked for decades. This is part of our series Working Then and Now from Radio Diaries.

'Working' Then And Now: A Hotel Piano Player Frustrated By His Future

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Meet Some Of The Voices From 'Working' Then And Now

(Left to right) Promoter Eddie Jaffe (center) watches Rubin "Hurricane" Carter sign a contract before a fight in 1964; Sharon Griggins; Eddie Arroyo weighs in at Arlington Park in Chicago; policeman Renault Robinson in 1970. Bettmann Archive/Getty Images; Courtesy of Sharon Griggins; Courtesy of Eddie Arroyo; Lee Balterman/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images hide caption

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Bettmann Archive/Getty Images; Courtesy of Sharon Griggins; Courtesy of Eddie Arroyo; Lee Balterman/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images

Meet Some Of The Voices From 'Working' Then And Now

Taped interviews that Studs Terkel used for his book Working had been packed in boxes for decades. Here are some of those recordings, as part of a new series produced by Radio Diaries and Project&.

'Working' Then And Now: Sharon Griggins, Phone Operator

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'Working' Then And Now: 'I Didn't Plan To Be A Union Guy'

Gary Bryner tells Studs Terkel about being a union member and working in an auto factory for General Motors. About 40 years later, he reflects on how factory work and the role of unions have changed.

'Working' Then And Now: 'I Didn't Plan To Be A Union Guy'

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'Working' Then & Now: Black Chicago Police Officer

In 1971, Studs Terkel interviewed Renault Robinson, one of the city's few black officers. Robinson spoke bluntly about the role of race in urban policing.

'Working' Then & Now: Black Chicago Police Officer

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'Working' Then And Now: Terkel Interviews 'Token' Female Ad Executive

In the 1970s, Studs Terkel took a reel-to-reel tape recorder to record interviews with people about their jobs. George Geesey hide caption

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George Geesey

50 Years Of NPR

'Working' Then And Now: Terkel Interviews 'Token' Female Ad Executive

In the 1970s, Studs Terkel talked to an ad executive, who explained how as a "token" woman, she had to navigate the male-dominated industry.

'Working' Then And Now: Terkel Interviews 'Token' Female Ad Executive

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Teenage Telephone Operator Reveals Loneliness In Terkel's 'Working'

Sharon Griggins was 17 and working for Illinois Bell as a telephone operator when she was interviewed by Studs Terkel. This is part of Working Then and Now from Radio Diaries and Project&.

Teenage Telephone Operator Reveals Loneliness In Terkel's 'Working'

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'Working' Then And Now: Terkel Talks To Car Parker Known As 'One Swing Al'

Our partner Radio Diaries, along with Project&, combed through Studs Terkel's tapes, and we're bringing you the best of what they found. Today, Lovin' Al Pommier, a Chicago parking lot attendant.

'Working' Then And Now: Terkel Talks To Car Parker Known As 'One Swing Al'

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Before 'Humans Of New York,' Terkel Showed Dignity In Everyday People In 'Working'

Radio Diaries

Iconic journalist Studs Terkel was creating a best-seller, when he interviewed people around the U.S. for his book Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do.

Before 'Humans Of New York,' Terkel Showed Dignity In Everyday People In 'Working'

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'Working' Then And Now: Studs Terkel's Book Interviews Resurface As Audio

Studs Terkel talks on his Chicago radio show in the late 1970s. Bettmann Archive/Getty Images hide caption

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Bettmann Archive/Getty Images

'Working' Then And Now: Studs Terkel's Book Interviews Resurface As Audio

All this week on NPR, you'll hear the voices of people Studs Terkel interviewed in his book, Working. Among the interviews you'll hear this week are a telephone operator and hotel piano player.

'Working' Then And Now: Studs Terkel's Book Interviews Resurface As Audio

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